Abstract:
Chris Phoenix: Mike wrote about this yesterday, but I've gotten a few emails today so wanted to add some comments.

Researchers at Cornell have developed some cubes with electromagnets that can move to connect themselves together. They have called this self-replicating robotics -- which it is, in a sense. But the components are far more complex than the "replication" operation.

So in terms of nanoscale manufacturing, these robots are a distant proof of concept only.